UN still waiting to see Israel’s evidence against UNRWA
Earlier, we reported that Israel officially notified the United Nations it’s cancelling the agreement that regulated its relations with the UN relief organisation for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) since 1967.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered his ministry to notify the UN of the cancellation. Katz said the UN “was presented with countless pieces of evidence that Hamas operatives are employed by UNRWA and about the use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist purposes – yet nothing was done about this”.
In response, UNRWA director of communications Juliette Touma said in addition to a UN oversight office’s investigation, UNRWA received one formal accusation directly from Israeli authorities, alleging 100 of its staff were members of Palestinian armed groups.
When UNRWA asked to see the evidence and sought more information and cooperation from Israel about the allegations, it received no response, she said.
WHO chief says UNRWA ban ‘will not make Israel safer’
The chief of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has denounced Israel’s decision to cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
“Let me be clear: There is simply no alternative to UNRWA,” Tedros said.
“This ban will not make Israel safer. It will only deepen the suffering of the people of Gaza and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.”
Tedros’s comments came after Israel said it formally notified the UN of its decision to sever ties with UNRWA after Israeli lawmakers backed the move last week.
UN lawyers ‘taking a closer look’ at Israel’s move to block UNRWA
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has responded to Israel’s announcement that it is terminating the agreement facilitating the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees – the main aid provider in Gaza.
Guterres stressed that UNRWA was essential and there was no alternative, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel sent a letter notifying the UN General Assembly it was ending its agreement for UNRWA to operate in the occupied Palestinian territory, which has been in effect since the end of the 1967 Middle East war.
If it’s impossible for UNRWA to operate, Israel will be responsible for providing Palestinians in occupied territory with humanitarian goods and services, as well as education and healthcare, Dujarric said.
“Obviously, our lawyers and UNRWA’s lawyers are also taking a closer look at the letter.”
